Bangkok: "New York City 'EPI Thailand' has highlighted the country's pivotal role in driving environmental policies towards sustainability on the global stage. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shared experiences of significant progress during a recent event.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, delegated Dr. Raveewan Pooridej, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to represent Thailand at the launch of the 2026 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). This event was organized by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law and Policy in New York City, USA. Thailand was invited as a country demonstrating significant improvement in the 2026 environmental performance assessment, having ascended 16 places from 90th in 2024 to 74th in 2026. At the 25th anniversary celebration of the EPI, Dr. Pooridej shared Thailand's successful experience in developing EPI Thailand, underscoring the importance of data-driven policymaking to enhance environmental quality and the quality of life for citizens.
Dr. Raveewan Phuridej expressed her satisfaction with Yale University's recognition of Thailand by inviting them to the event. She highlighted that the EPI serves as more than just a ranking system, acting as a critical tool that assists Thailand in identifying areas requiring urgent development. This facilitates the formulation of targeted environmental policies and plans. EPI Thailand adopts the assessment methodologies of Yale and Columbia to ensure international credibility. Over the last five years, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has concentrated on raising awareness and understanding of EPI Thailand's application, from the central to regional levels. The ministry has also emphasized expanding cooperation through a Win-Win Situation approach to benefit all sectors. The initiative aims to drive natural resource and environmental management using a data-driven approach through the epi.onep.go.th database, making EPI Thailand an essential tool for identifying urgent environmental issues.
Thailand's objective extends beyond merely improving its ranking. The country seeks to use data to drive policies that yield tangible results, enhance environmental quality and the quality of life for its citizens, and establish long-term sustainability. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment expresses its gratitude to the 24 collaborating agencies across 9 ministries, as well as related organizations from the education sector, government, and private sector, both at the central and regional levels, for their continuous support in this endeavor.